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But 49.9 per cent of voters there backed Brexit last year, a sign the beleaguered fishing industry has had enough of Brussels.

The SNP clung on to the equivalent ­Holyrood seat last year but the 15 per cent sway from SNP to Tories makes Moray a top target for Ruth Davidson.

Buckie fisherman David Wilson is one of the voters the Tories will be chasing hard. A disillusioned SNP supporter, he is considering switching to the Tories.

David Wilson, 36, fisherman from Buckie (Image: Newsline Media)

We met him in ­Burghead, a village with a population of around 1700 that once depended on fishing. Now there are only two dozen boats in the harbour and fishing provides employment for just two per cent of the local population.

David, 36, said: “I voted for the SNP last time but I won’t be voting for them again. I’ve no confidence in Nicola ­Sturgeon. All she goes on about is independence and I don’t think that’s the best thing for us now. We’re better off in Britain – and out of Europe. Everybody made their decision.”

Buckie (Image: Getty)

The father of three said May appeared to be the most capable ­politician to lead the country and steer Britain out of Europe. But David said he was still not sure which party would win his vote.

He said: “It won’t be the SNP because I can’t see them being any good for fishing any more.

“I voted for ­independence last time but I wouldn’t do that again.” His voice is echoed in a constituency which may be hundreds of miles away but where many of the same ­conversations are taking place.

In Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, the SNP are defending a majority of just 328. It is the Tories’ top target in Scotland. The Tories need a swing of just 0.3 per cent to take the seat, once a Lib Dem stronghold.

Calum Kerr

Former Scottish secretary Michael Moore represented the area from 2007 until his defeat at the hands of the SNP’s Calum Kerr two years ago. Before Moore, ex-Lib Dem leader Sir David Steel was the local MP for more than 30 years. But two years ago, the Lib Dems came third.

And in Galashiels, there seemed ­disillusionment with the SNP’s continued pursuit of independence.

Personal assistant Fiona-Jane Tunnock voted for SNP in the last general election but says she is having second thoughts.

From Yes voter to committed Tory, she could be the sort of person to provide the Tories with the momentum they need. The 44-year-old said: “In many ways voting Tory is against everything I believe in but I do feel let down by Nicola ­Sturgeon and the SNP.

Fiona-Jane Tunnock is having second thoughts (Image: Sunday Mail)

“When I voted for independence, I thought I wanted it but now I’ve had time to really think about the ­repercussions of independence, it has put me off.

“I really want Sturgeon to concentrate on the day job, rather than keeping on pushing for independence all the time. I think she has handled things badly and by calling for another independence referendum, she has pushed Theresa May into calling this new election.”

Photographer Andrew Taylor said he was an SNP supporter but is now ­considering voting for the SNP or Tories.

Andrew, 56, of Grange, Banffshire, said: “I voted to remain in the UK. I just think the politicians should get on with their jobs, the decision has been made.

Galashiels (Image: Sunday Mail)

“It’s going to happen – we are leaving Europe. Instead of moaning they should get on with it.

“I think Theresa May is a good Prime Minister and I don’t think anyone else is capable of running the country. I think she will try to get the best for us.”

Oil worker Sean Mitchell said he would be voting Conservative again. Sean, 30, from Buckie, Banffshire, said: “I was a Brexit voter because I thought we’d be better governing ourselves. It’s especially important coming from a town which was built on the fishing industry.

“Brussels has destroyed it. The SNP’s mandate is to go back into Europe, which is not any kind of independence for the country.”

Charity worker Tony House said he would vote Lib Dem again despite them “realistically having no chance in this area now”.

The 57-year-old, of Hawick, Roxburghshire, said: “I don’t want to vote SNP but I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I voted Tory, which is why I’ll probably stick with the Lib Dems. It’s a very difficult seat, and the result is probably going to be close again. But my gut feeling is the SNP will hold it.”

The Galashiels textiles student said: “I come from a farming family and I think an independent Scotland would bring more business to the farming ­community, so I’m voting SNP.

“I’ve not got enough information yet about their policies – I’ll read up on them before the election – but I’ve only heard good things about Nicola ­Sturgeon.”

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, has been accused of turning British politics into a circus by calling the election.

It means voters in ­Scotland could go to the polls seven times in five years.

So is this a poll the public wants? We visited the Big Kid Circus at Glasgow’s Quayside – to ask voters and performers.

Dental nurse and mum-of-two Nicola Burns, 34, of Erskine, Renfrewshire, said: “I think the PM should have waited at least another six months to see how things pan out. I do support Theresa May because I think she’s a strong lady.

First-time voter Yasmin Jamieson is voting SNP (Image: Sunday Mail)

“I’m undecided, I need to see how the campaigns unfold but it seems rushed. I want to make up my mind properly.”

Grandad William Hamilton, 64, from Largs, Ayrshire, said: “I wasn’t too taken aback by it. When you look at the state of the Labour Party – and no disrespect to Jeremy Corbyn, his heart is in the right place – you can see why she thought now was a good time.

“She’s taking advantage of that and who can blame her? I voted SNP last time but I’m still undecided because I get fed up with things like the state of the roads and the NHS.”

Joiner Michael MacDonald, 43, of Glasgow, said: “I don’t like Theresa May. I wanted to stay in Europe. I worked in Holland for seven years and in my experience they were very nice to me.

“I voted SNP the last time and I’ll stay with the SNP because I believe in what they’re saying.”

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Retired admin worker Josie Busby, 70, of Renfrewshire, said: “I voted Tory last time as I like their policies and will do this time. I don’t have any faith in Labour.”

Bulgarian-born Julie Kirilov, 20, whose family own the circus, came to Britain in 2000 and is now a UK citizen.

She said: “I was quite surprised by the election. I voted Tory last time.

“When we came to this country we had to work hard and put a lot back in. All my family voted Tory and I’ll ­probably vote for them again. I see people from my country coming here now and they want it handed to them on a plate.”

Clown Olena Yegorova, of Kiev, Ukraine, said: “I don’t think circus people should get involved in politics, we’re artists. Our job is to entertain people and help them forget their ­problems.

“So if we can take the audience’s minds off things like the stresses of that election, then we’re doing our jobs.”